Table

ABSTRACT

A table having a top with an adjustable panel whch may be raised and lowered relative to the remainder of the top to provide a work surface whose elevation above the floor may be adjusted. The table is designed for use primarily by wheel chair patients.

O Untied States Patent 11 1 1111 3,834,325 DeWilde 1 Sept. 10, 1974 [54]TABLE 735,312 8/1903 Stokes 108/96 777,256 12/1904 H 1d 211 153 [76]Inventor: Ralph F 718 CalsPur, 1,892,414 12/1932 11111;: 3121194Claremom, Cahf- 91711 2,533,155 12/1950 Von Hacht 312/194 Oct. 22,757,996 8/1956 Kozelka 108/101 [21] Appl. No.1 2 PrimaryExaminer-Francis K. Zugel Attorney, Agent, or Firm-Boniard I. Brown [52]US. Cl 108/96, 211/153, 108/109 51 Int. Cl A47b 21/02 1 ABSTRACT [58]Field of Search 108/96, 109, 110, 107, A--table having a top with anadjustable panel whch 108/59; 211/153; 312/194, 195 may be raised andlowered relative to the remainder of the top to provide a work surfacewhose elevation [56] References Cited above the floor may be adjusted.The-table is designed UNITED STATES PATENTS for use primarily by wheelchair patients.

594,505 11/1897 Welch 108/96 3 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures PATENTED W9743.834.325

sum 10; 2

TABLE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Thisinvention relates generally to furniture and more particularly to atable with an adjustable top panel.

2. Discussion of the Prior Art As will appear from the ensuingdescription, the table of the present invention is capable of a varietyof uses 1 and applications. However, the table is intended primarily foruse by wheel chair patients and will be described in this connection.

Conventional tables are ill-suited for use by wheel chair patients fortwo reasons. First, such tables are too high for many wheel chairpatients, particularly those who are young or short. Secondly,conventional tables are incapable of adjustment to the most convenientheight for various patient activities, such as working, writing, typing,eating, and so on.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention provides a table which isparticularly adapted for use by wheel chair patientsand overcomes theabove and other drawbacks of conventional tables for such use. The tablehas a table top made up of separate panels disposed edge to edge. One ofthese panels is vertically adjustable to vary its height above thefloor. The table of the disclosed embodiment, for example, has twocoplanar fixed panels located at opposite sides of the adjustable panel.The adjustable panel is vertically adjustable between an upper position,wherein the upper panel surfaces are located in a common plane toprovide a smooth table surface, and a lower position below the fixedpanels. Detent means are provided on the adjustable panel for releasablylocking the panel in selected vertical positions.

In the disclosed embodiment of the invention, the adjustable top panelhas a frame over which is removably positioned a tray which provides theupper panel surface. The detent means for locking the panel in adjustedposition are mounted on this panel frame in such a way that removal ofthe tray exposes the detent means for manual retraction to release thepanel for BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective viewof a table according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view of the table;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged section on line 3-3 in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a further enlarged'section on line 4-4 in FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The table 10 of the inventionwhich has been selected for illustration in the drawings has legs 12 anda table top 14 mounted on the legs. The legs at each end of the tableare joined by a cross brace 16. Table top 14 has a frame 18 constructedof frame members welded or otherwise rigidly joined to one another toprovide a 0 pair of platforms 20 separated by an intervening well 22.End members 24 of the top frame 18 are boxed channels or tubular membersof squared cross-section, which slidably receive the upper ends of thelegs 12. The legs may be retained in the frame channels by simplefriction or suitable fastening means. The top frame 18 has verticalangle channels 26 along the sides of the frame well 22. These channelswill be referred to again shortly.

Top panels 28 and depending panels 30, 32 are secured or formed togetherto form unitary, shell-like assemblies adapted to be removablypositioned on the top frame platforms 20. The assembliesare readilyremovable and replaceable for ease of cleaning, storage, repair, etc.Top panels 28 are herein referred to as fixed top panels to distinguishthem from an adjustable top panel hereinafter described. The assemblycomprising panels 28, 30, and 32 may be fabricated of any suitable sheetstock material, such as metal or plastic.

Within the top frame well 22 is a center panel 34 which is hereafterreferred to as an adjustable top panel. This adjustable panel fitsslidably between the well slide walls 30 and is vertically adjustable inthe well between its broken line upper. position and solid line lowerposition of FIG. 1. The upper position of the panel is hereafterreferred to in places as its normal position. In this normal position ofthe adjustable panel, the three'panels 28, 34 are disposed edge to edgewith their upper surfaces in a common plane to provide a smooth tablesurface. In its lower position, the adjustable panel 34 is located atthe bottom of the well 22 and below the fixed panels 28.

Referring to FIGS. 2 and 4, the adjustable panel 34 has an openrectangular frame 36 including side frame members 38 and interveningframe members 40 welded or otherwise rigidly joined to one another. Acentral frame cross-member 41 is rigidly joined, as by welding, betweenmembers 40, as shown. Frame members 38, 40 and 41 are angles orL-bearns. As shown in FIG. 2, a tray 42 is removably fitted over theframe 36 to provide the upper surface of the panel 34. Tray 42 hasdepending flanges 44 which extend downwardly alongside the frame members40 to position the tray edgewise relative to the frame.

Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4 the adjustable frame 36 has detent means 46for releasably securing the panel in selected vertical positions in thetop frame well 22 including its upper position shown in phantom outlinein FIG. 1. Detent means 46 comprises pins 48 which extend through holes52 in the panel side frame members 38 and are extendable outwardly intoopenings 52 in the well side wall members 30 and top frame channels 26to lock frame 36 in fixed vertical position. Outward.

extension of the pins is limited by the length of bolts 56, as shown.The inner ends of the detent pins 48 at each side of the panel frame 36are rigidly joined, as by welding, to cross-member 54, the end portionof which are slidable on panel frame members 40. Cross bars 41 and 54are engaged by bolts 56 which are respectively surrounded by helicalcompression springs 58. These springs urge cross bar 54 from fixedcross-member 41, and thereby urge the detent pins 48 outwardly forengagement in the well sidewall openings 52 to lock frame 36 in fixedvertical position. The pins 48 are retracted to release the panel 36 forselective vertical adjustment by removing the panel tray 42 to exposethe cross bars 41 and 54, and by manually squeezing these cross barstogether to compress springs 58.

It is now clear that the center top panel 34 of the table may bevertically adjusted between its upper normal position of FIG. 1, whereinthe panels 28, 34 provide a smooth table surface, and a number of lowerpositions in the top frame well 22, wherein the panels provide amulti-level work surface. As noted earlier, the table is intended foruse by wheel chair patients. To this end the table is dimensioned toreceive the patients legs below the top frame well, and to receive thewheel chair arms and wheels at opposite sides of the well. The centertop panel 34 may be vertically adjusted to a number of differentvertical positions which are convenient for various patient activities,such as typing, working, writing, eating, and so forth. It is obvious,of course, that the table may be used for other purposes.

What is claimed as new in support of Letters Patent 1. A tablecomprising: supporting legs, and a table top mounted on said legs havinga central upwardly and forwardly opening well and including a pair offixed coplanar panels located at opposite sides of said well anddisposed at a fixed elevation relative to said legs and an adjustablepanel within said well which is vertically adjustable through a range ofpositions including a normal position wherein the upper surfaces of saidpanels are located substantially in a common plane to form a tablesurface,

said adjustable panel comprising an open rectangular frame and a trayremovably fitted over said frame, and

detent means carried by said frame including pins engageable in holes inthe sides of said well for releasably securing said adjustable panel insaid normal position and other selected positions of vertical adjustmentin said well, and manually operable means below and exposed by removalof said tray for retracting said pins from said holes to release saidframe for vertical adjustment to a selected position within said well.

2. A table according to claim 1 wherein:

there are two pins at each side of said frame, and said manuallyoperable means comprise connecting bars joining the inner ends of thepins such that movement of said bars toward one another retracts saidpins from said holes to release said frame for vertical adjustment, andsprings acting between said cross bars for urging the latter apart andthereby urging said pins outwardly relative to said frame for engagementin said holes to lock said frame in position.

3. A table according to claim 2 wherein:

said tray has depending flanges engaging over edges of said frame toposition said tray relative to the frame.

1. A table comprising: supporting legs, and a table top mounted on saidlegs having a central upwardly and forwardly opening well and includinga pair of fixed coplanar panels located at opposite sides of said welland disposed at a fixed elevation relative to said legs and anadjustable panel within said well which is vertically adjustable througha range of positions including a normal position wherein the uppersurfaces of said panels are located substantially in a common plane toform a table surface, said adjustable panel comprising an openrectangular frame and a tray removably fitted over said frame, anddetent means carried by said frame including pins engageable in holes inthe sides of said well for releasably securing said adjustable panel insaid normal position and other selected positions of vertical adjustmentin said well, and manually operable means below and exposed by removalof said tray for retracting said pins from said holes to release saidframe for vertical adjustment to a selected position within said well.2. A table according to claim 1 wherein: there are two pins at each sideof said frame, and said manually operable means comprise connecting barsjoining the inner ends of the pins such that movement of said barstoward one another retracts said pins from said holes to release saidframe for vertical adjustment, and springs acting between said crossbars for urging the latter apart and thereby urging said pins outwardlyrelative to said frame for engagement in said holes to lock said framein position.
 3. A table according to claim 2 wherein: said tray hasdepending flanges engaging over edges of said frame to position saidtray relative to the frame.